Santa Ana Lane Retired

Bets.com.au Staff

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Last updated: 21 Dec 2020

Bets.com.au Staff 21 Dec 2020

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Five-time Group One winner Santa Ana Lane has been retired from racing
The Freedman-trained gelding won over $8.2 million in prize money
His Group One victories came in the Rupert Clarke Stakes (2017), The Goodwood, Stradbroke Handicap, VRC Classic (all 2018) and the T.J Smith Stakes (2019)

Mark Zahra riding Santa Ana Lane celebrates winning the 2019 TJ Smith Stakes. (Getty)

Five-time Group One winner Santa Ana Lane has run his last race with connections deciding to retire the eight-year-old gelding from racing.

Via a recent media release from Anthony Freedman Racing, co-managing owner Michael Clemenger spoke on the call to retire the champion.

“Our forty owners have enjoyed an incredible six-year journey, spanning race tracks all over Australia plus an exciting adventure to Hong Kong in 2019” said co-managing owner Michael Clemenger.

“The memories are beyond our expectations and we wish to thank all those involved over his career which began with a maiden victory at Bendigo in September 2015.

“To all the Freedman staff, in particular Anthony, Sam, Lou his strapper, Will and Robbie his track work riders and Justin Bahen who purchased Santa Ana Lane as a yearling.

“We are all so happy to see Santa head off on his slay in time for Christmas.”

Trainer Anthony Freedman nominated Santa Ana Lane’s victory in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) as the highlight of his career.

“The win in the TJ Smith beating the best sprinters in Australia by three and a half lengths was enormous” Freedman said.

“He had nothing left to prove on the race track and as an eight-year-old, I am happy to see him retired as a happy and healthy horse, he had a terrific career”.

“He has given everything he had and I commend the ownership group for looking after him.

“It was a privilege to train him, he will be sadly missed by everyone around the stable.

“We are yet to confirm what the future holds for him; those decisions will be made over the coming weeks by the owners, but we’d love to see him as an Off The Track Thoroughbred.

“He has a terrific attitude, he is a kind horse so he has the right attributes to succeed in that arena.”

Santa Ana Lane was an $80,000 yearling purchase from the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale (by Bloodstock Agent Justin Bahen) and finished with prize money earnings in excess of $8.2 million.

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